As PrettyLittleThing founder and chief executive Umar Kamani is inducted into the Drapers Digital Awards Hall of Fame, he talks to Drapers about creating a legacy and taking the rapidly growing business global.

Drapers Footwear Awards 19 will recognise and celebrate the footwear's very best from across the UK and Ireland.

We have 18 exciting categories up for contest, including International Footwear Business of the Year and Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year.

As PrettyLittleThing founder and chief executive Umar Kamani is inducted into the Drapers Digital Awards Hall of Fame, he talks to Drapers about creating a legacy and taking the rapidly growing business global.

Drapers 30 Under 30 2018: Ben Francis, founder, Gymshark

Drapers’ 30 under 30 is back for 2019!

Gymshark founder Ben Francis is a lifelong entrepreneur – he was creating websites, a fitness-focused social network and iPhone apps while still a teenager. In 2012, aged just 20 and an undergraduate at Aston University, he started etailer Gymshark. Originally a website selling health supplements, the business moved into clothing after fitness fanatic Francis struggled to find gym clothes he wanted to wear. Armed with a sewing machine and a screen printer, he started to make his own.

Just five years later, annual sales have hit £41m, and grew by more than 200% year on year from 2016 to 2017. Gymshark has 1.7 million followers on Instagram and operates online in 10 international markets. The brand is due to move into a 42,000 sq ft headquarters in Solihull early next year, and has ambitious targets to grow sales to £300m over the next three years. Gymshark was named Britain’s fastest-growing company by the Sunday Times Fast Track in 2016.

Francis looks to his chief executive, Steve Hewitt, and chief strategic officer, Paul Richardson, as well as his parents and grandparents, for inspiration.

Men’s etailer Thread was founded in 2012, when personalisation in online fashion was just starting out. Co-founder and CEO Kieran O’Neill spoke at the Drapers Digital Festival about how the company stays ahead in an increasingly disruptive environment.

Maria Hatzistefanis founded The Rodial Group in 1999, after a string of uninspiring jobs led her to follow her lifelong passion for beauty. She shared her business lessons at the Drapers Digital Festival.

Have your say

Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.